Local veterans honored with Quilts of Valor

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — As Mary and Renald Michaud of South Berwick walked down the aisle together 68 years ago, they had no idea they would be shuffling down another aisle balanced by their walkers with their children's help guiding the journey at the American Legion in Rollinsford, N.H., on Sunday. The Michauds met whe...

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — As Mary and Renald Michaud of South Berwick walked down the aisle together 68 years ago, they had no idea they would be shuffling down another aisle balanced by their walkers with their children's help guiding the journey at the American Legion in Rollinsford, N.H., on Sunday. The Michauds met when they served in the Navy during World War II and were honored along with 34 other Seacoast area veterans at a Quilts of Valor ceremony and thanked for their military service.

Master of Ceremonies Bill Robinson, of American Legion Riders Chapter No. 47, read a bit about each veteran's service and when they served during either World War II, Korean War or Vietnam War, and thanked each one individually for their service as the crowd cheered and they collected their symbolic medals.

The Village Quilt Shop in Berwick took on the responsibility of creating and gathering quilts for the event. Lisa Lapierre, owner of the registered Quilts for Valor shop, said they would be adding the 36 quilts given today with the 99,000 quilts that were given nationally. She ended with, "Thank you for your service. God bless you and God bless America."

When Bill Seaward of Eliot was asked what this honor meant to him as a veteran, he said, "I'm just overwhelmed."